smith



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.v

J. A. SMITH.

REED ORGAN.

No. 394,218. Patented Deo. 11, 1888..

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(N`o Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. SMITH.

REED ORGAN.

No. 394,218. Patented Deo. 11, 1888.

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` 8 8 sheets-sheet 8. J. A. SMITH.

REED ORGAN.

(No Model.)

No. 894,218. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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14, .torney N. PETERS, Pheto-Llhegnphgr. washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICF@ JOHN A. SMITH, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

REED-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,218, dated December l1, 1888. Application filed December 2, 1887. Serial No. 256,755. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/00771,:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed- Organs; and I do clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates more particularly to reed-organs, although certain features of the same are applicable also to other wind musical instruments.

The object of the invention is to produce an organ of this character of large capacity parts which will occupy less floor-space in proportion to its capabilities than any instrument now known to the art, and yet which will allow ample room to all of its parts,

pedal action and vastly improving the appearance of the organ by extending only the white keys forward and making them removable, so that when not in use they may be taken away and stored out of sight; sixth,

in an improved manual-coupler and an imhereby declare the following to be a full,

proved octave manual-coupler by which like 1 keys in the upper and lower banks or the octave of the upper and lower banks of keys with a view both to perfect performance of function and firmness of structure.

A further object is to improve the mechanism controlling the operation of the organ,

with a view to the convenience of the peri former.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in placing a bellows in the upper part of an organ and in the lower part pumpers and providing actuating devices for independently controlling the two, thus increasing the capacity of the organ with respect to the ioorspace occupied; second, in combining the wind-trunks with the organ frame or casing, so as to strengten the latter and at the same time reduce the space occupied by the said trunks to a minimum; third, in so arranging the wind trunks, receiver, eXhaust-chamber, and pumping mechanism that there is a con tinuous passage for the wind from the several wind-chests first upwardly to the receiver and thence downwardly to the exhaust-chamber, where it is exhausted by the pumping` mechanism; fourth, in placing within the casing and making the same an integral part of the organ an electric motor for actuating the pump` ers and providing said motor with suitable connections, so that the motor may be readily placed in communication with a source of electric energy; iifth, in simplifying the may be simultaneously operated 5 seventh, in providing a reed-chamber with a swell common to the sets of reeds facing forwardly or backwardly, respectively, and providing an unobstructed air-passag from the rearwardly-facing reed-throats and locating said swell near the front of the casing, so that the full intensity of the air-vibrations from all of the and superior relative arrangement of the f reeds may reach the space outside of the organ; eighth, in an improved hand blowing arrangement for operating pumpers in the upper part of the organ; ninth, in certain structural features which will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, and then deiinitely indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane cutting the organ. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on a plane indicated by the line c a, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective showing the means for operating the upper pumpers. Fig. a is a detail plan showing part of the octave manualcoupler. Fig. 5 is a broken detailview showing the means for throwing the coupler of the manual and the octave-manual into active relation to the keys. Fig. Gis a detail view showing the arrangement of the pedals and connecting-levers for simultaneously operating by said pedals the great organ and pedalorgan, or the swelleorgan and pedal-organ, or all three. Fig. is a partial view of the removable white pedal-keys and their frame. Fig. S is a view in perspective of a detached white pedal-key. Fig. 9 illustrates the mechanisin for controlling the swells.

An inspection of Fig. l will show the relative location of the parts. 'lhere are three wind-chests, l 2 3, l and 2 being mounted on the main foundation-board 1, and 3 being secured to an upper foundation-board, 5, both boards being properly mounted in the casing in a manner well understood in the art.

IOO

VVind-chest 1 is placed on the upper face of the board and wind-chest 2 on the lower face thereof, the two communicating through a series of openings. (Clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) In a chamber, G, over suitable openings in the wind-chest 1 are located the reeds for the great organ, under which are valves or pallets 52, controlled by tracker-pins 51, the latter being controlled by the lower bank of keys, 45. in a chamber, 7, supported under openings in the bottom of wind-chest 2, the suction through the reeds being' controlled by valves 65, operated by levers 63, and tracker-pins 64, connected with the pedals. I ln a chamber, 8,1mder the wind-chest 3 are the reeds for the swell-organ, the valves of which are operated by tracker-pins 46 49 and levers 50, operated by keys of either bank or by the pedals, in a manner presently to be described. lindchests 1 and 2 communicate with the receiver 10 by wind-trunk 9, said trunk being practically a continuation of wind-chest 1, and wind-chest 3 communicates directly with the receiver by openings in the upper foundationboard, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. From the receiver a wind-trunk, 13, communicates with an exhaust-chamber, 14, in the base of the organ. The general distribution of the main parts will now be understood.

The upper part of the organ is occupied by largev bellows, and as this space is usually unoccupied, except by ornamental frame-work, in organs as now constructed, the great gain of space in the lower portion of the organ by relieving` it of so bulky a part `will be apparent. It leaves a large free space in the lower partv for the introduction of additional pumping mechanism and various accessories, and enables these to be supported in aposition in which they will be readily accessible for repairs.

The air is exhausted from the receiver by three distinct sets of pumpers, one set, 11 12, acting directly upon it, a second set, 13 19, being actuated by the blow-pedals 44 and connecting-straps 43, and a third set, 15 1G 17, being controlled by a counter-shaft, 27, and cranks 23, 29, and 30. The means for actuating these several sets of pumpers will now be explained. The upperset, as before stated, acts directly on the receiver in the ordinary manner` and is reciprocated by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. A shaft, 33, is secured to the side of the casing and has an arm with a handle, 34, projecting through the same at a point convenient of access. An arm, 35, at the top of the shaft co-operates with a link, 36, to rock a walking-beam, 37, centrally pivoted at 38. Then the handle 34 is reciprocated, arms 39 41and 40 42, connecting with the pumpers 11 12, communicate the rocking' lmovement to said pumpers. 0n the exhaustchamber 14 are two sets of pumpers, 15,16, and 17 on the upper side and 18 19 on the lower side.`

The exhaust-chamber is connected withthe The reeds for the pedal-organ are reni s.

yupper and lower manual, respectively.

receiver by wind-trunk 13. The lower pumpers are reciprocated by the blow-pedals 44 and suitable springs. The upper pumpers are reciprocated by a shaft, 27, provided with three cranks or rectangular bends, 23 29 30, co-operating with links 80, one for each pumper. The shaft extends through the side of the casing, and is provided with a hand-crank, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,) by which it may be rotated. On the crank-shaft, which extends almost the extire width of the organ, is mounted a pulley, 2U, connected by a belt with a counter-shaft pulley, 25, said counter-shaft carrying a large pulley, 24, co-opcrating through a belt, 23, with a small pulley, 22, on the shaft of a motor, 21, suitably supported inside of the easing. l prefer for this purpose an electric motor, suitable binding-posts, 81 82, being secured to the outside of the casing and electrical connections being provided between the same and the motor. The several pulleys and their connections are speed-reducing` devices to reduce the rapid revolutions of the motor to a movement sufficiently slow for the pumping action. The binding-posts maybe connected with a battery or any convenient source of electricity.

The wind-trunks 9 and 13, which connect, respectively, wind-chests 1 and 2 with the receiver, and the latter with the exhaust-chainber, are located on the sides of the casing, and the latter forms one wall of the trunks, as shown in Fig. 2. This not only provides additional interior space and throws the trunks into a position where they will not obstruct the interior mechanism or access to the same', but adds great strength to the casing and makes the organ capable of withstanding rough handling and great strains in transporting the same. The distribution of windpassages described produces a uniform upward suction on the reeds, and less resistance is offered to the movement of the air than is the case with tortuous or up and down cur- The wind is drawn directly up to the receiver from all of the wind-chests and is there either directly exhausted by the upper pumpers or is drawn into exhaust-chambers and expelled therefrom by either set of pumpers co-operating` with the same.

My organ is provided with a double manual or two banks of finger-keys pivoted substantially as shown in Fig. 1, and which open the valves of the great or swell organ in a manner already indicated, the lower bank cooperating with traeker-pins 51 forward of the pivot and the rear ends of the upper bank co-operating with lugs on tracker-pins 46 to lift the same. Each tracker-pin 46 extends below the rear ends of the lower bank of keys. To each of the latter forward of its pivot is pivotally secured one end of a lever, 55, extending diagonally, as shown in Fig. 4, in which 53 53 and 45 45 represent keys on the The other end of said lever spans the octave tracker-pin for the swell-organ below a fixed lug' on4 IOO IIO

the same, which prevents the upward movement of the rear end without lifting the tracker-pin. There is a lever, 55, for each key of the manual except the upper octave. This is the octave manual-coupler by means of which the octave-notes of the great and swell organ may be simultaneously sounded by the depression of a key of the lower manual. Below the couplers 55, at a point suitable to give the rear ends sufficient play to lift the trackerpins a sufficient distance to open the swellorgan valves, extends a bar, 5G, Figs. l and 5, the same extending the full length of the manual. This bar normally lies in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, but is pivoted so as to be rocked to the position shown in full lines when a suitable stop connected therewith is pulled by the performer. This bar is virtually a movable fulcrum for all of the couplers 55. lVhen in its normal or vdepressed position, the couplers follow the lower keys without liftingI any tracker-pin 4G, but when raised, as shown in full lines in the drawings, the depression of a lower key will bring the rear end of a corresponding coupler into engagement with the lug on the trackerpin of the octave-key of upper manual and will open a valve of the swell-organ, so that both the great and the swell organ will be 0perated by the depression of a lower key.

I provide, also, for sounding corresponding notes of the great and swell organs by similar mechanism, which is shown in Fig. l. A lever, 47, is supported by a pin and nut, 4S. The inner end of the lever moves freelyin its normal position on a guide-pin on the framework. The back end of the lever is held between two lu gs on a tracker-pi11,46,of the corresponding key in the upper manual. A bar, 54, extending the length of the manual, is normally held in position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5; but when pulled to the position shown in full lines it becomes a bearing for the front ends of the lever 47. This is the manualcoupler, and i-t will be clear that when its stop is pulled out the depression of a key in the lower manual sounds the same note in the two organs simultaneously.

The mechanism just described provides for the simultaneous operation of the great and swell organs by the depression of a key on a single bank. I provide means also for bringing the pedal-organ into simultaneous operaion with both the others or with either of them. It has already been explained how the pedal-keys control the pedal-organ through levers 6l, 63, and 64, lever 63 being secured to 6l by a flexible connection, as shown in Figs. l and G. There is a lever, 6l, for each pedal sharp and fiat and a lever, 59, Fig. 6, for each white key. The mode of co-operation of the levers 59 with the white keys will presently be described. All of the levers 59 and 6l are connected pivotally with levers (52, both sets of levers being' pivoted centrally on bearings attached to the bottom of the casing, as shown in Fig. l. Each lever 62 is connected to a correspondingvertical rod, G6, which carries two arms or projections, 67 68, in which are adjustable screw-buttons, which in operation, bear upon the rear ends of levers (59 '70, the other ends of said levers bearing against the under face of the extreme rear ends ot' the keys of the upper and lower manual. Shippers 7l 72, extending the length of these series of levers, are mounted, respectively, under each, and are trunnioned at their ends, so as to be rocked into the positions shown in full and dotted lines, Fig. l. Suitable stops are provided within reach of the performer in a manner clear to those familiar with the art and connected with the ship pers, so that the latter may be shifted when desired. As long as the shippers are down only the pedal-organ is controlled by the pedal-keys. It the upper one is raised, both the pedal and swell organs are operated by a pedal-key. If the lower one is raised, both the pedal and great organs are similarlyoperated. If both are raised, the three organs are similarly and simultaneously operated.

I provide an improved arrangement ot' the white pedal-keys. They are pi votally mounted on a separate frame, 57, Figs. l and T, their inner free ends being rabbeted, as shown, to slip over a rabbet on the free ends of the corresponding levers 5t). 'lheblack keys terminate within the limits of the sides of the casing, so that when the organ is not in use a small floor-space isoccupied; but when the organ is to be used the white-key frame is brought from its place of storage and slipped into position.

The means for controlling a single or joint action' ot' the swells is illustrated in Fig. .l. The swells T3 T-t are connected by arms Si and links 7 5 Ttl with treadles TT TS, secured within convenient reach'of the performers feet at the bottom of the organ. The treadles are placed sufficiently close together, so that the performers foot may bridge them, thus rendering it convenient for either swell to be opened singly or both sinmltaneously.

The reed-chambers are constructed without any frame-work or supports obstructing their interior, as shown at i5 and S, containing only the reeds and reed-boards with 'the necessary meeting' arrangements. The chambers are closed except at the fronts, where the swells are located, suitable provision being made for the easy removal of the board constituting the rear wall of a chamber when it becomes necessary to gain access to the reeds in the rear. By these provisions the air-vibrations set up by the rearwardlyfacing reeds are deflected by the rear walls of the reed-chambers and issue at the front in company with those set up by the reeds facing forwardly. The vibrations have a greater intensity than when conducted through angular passages, as is usually done.

I desire to have itunderstood that although I have described an organ provided with the many improved features set forth many of TOO IIO

them may be used in connection with the mechanism of organs having a different general construction, or some may in some cases be dispensed with. I do not, moreover, limit myself to the speciiic construction of the parts set forth, as the same may be varied and still be within the scope of my invention. An organ constructed as set forth isolie of great power. It is important that these organs, intended largely for domestic use, should have the greatest musical capacity consistent with the least amount of floor-space occupied and a moderate length of base, so that in moving them from room to room or from house to house they may be conveniently handled and carried through hallways and doors. Efforts to reduce the Hoor-space heretofore have been at the expense ot' capacity. I can reduce the floor-space by the disposition ot' the bellows described and add to the power by the ample pumping mechanism, without which it would be difficult to maintain sufficient suction on an instrument provided with a double manual and pedals to properly maintain the tone of the reeds.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an organ, the combination, with the casing, of a bellows located in the upper part of said casing, a chamber in the lower part of r the same, and a pedal-base action and pumpers in said chamber, the bellows and pumpers being independently controllable, whereby the Hoor-space occupied by the organ is reduced and its wind capacity increased and free play and access to the parts are afforded.

2. In an organ, the combination of windchests located in different horizontal planes7 an air-receiver above the same, a wind-trunk connecting the chests with the receiver, and pumpers for exhausting' the air from the receiver, whereby the air has an unobstructed upward passage from all of the wind-chests.

3. In an organ, the combination of windchests located on dilferent horizontal planes, an air-receiver above the same, pumpers for said receiver, an upwardly-extending windtrunk connecting the chests with the receiver, a downwardly-extending trunk, an exhaust` chamber in communication therewith, and means for exhausting` air from said chamber, whereby the air has an unobstructed upward passage from all ofA the wind-chests and increased pumping capacity is provided.

4. The combination of an air-receiver in the upper part of an organ, an exhaust-chamber in the lower part ot' the same, air-ducts between the two, and pumpers for exhausting the air from the exhaust-chamber.

5. In an organ, the combination of an eX- haust-chamber provided with two sets of pumpers, blow-pedals co-operating with one set, anda crank-shaft for reciprocating the other set, said crank-shaft being provided with connections outside of the casing,whereby it may be independently rotated.

6. In an organ, the combination, with abellows and pumpers connected with the same, of an oscillating bar having its ends pivotally secured to the pumpers, and a pumper-lever mounted on the casing connected to said bar, said lever having two arms at an angle to its main stem, one arm acting on the oscillating bar above described and the other projecting through the casing and forming a handle by which the lever may be rocked, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the casing of an organ, of a wind-trunk attached to said casing, the casing forming an integral part of the wind-trunk and constituting one wall lof the same, whereby the interior space is economized and the frame work of the organ strengthened.

8. The combination, with the bellows of an organ, ot' a crank-shaft for reciprocating the same, an electric motor for operating the crank-shaft, speed-reducing connections between the motor-shaft and the crank-shaft, and binding-posts on the outside of the organ electrically connected with the motor,whereby the latter may be readily coupled with a source of electric energy.

9. In a manual-coupler for an organ, the combination, with the keys and their trackerpins, of a lever pivotally supported at a median point by one key, one end of said lever engaging the tracker-pin of another key, the other end being normally free to move with its key, a rocking fulcrum co-operating with the free end, and a stop connected thereto, whereby when thefulcrum is shifted to its abnormal position and a key depressed both tracker-pins will be operated.

l0. The combination, with key 45, pivoted between its ends, tracker-pin 5l on one side of the pivot, link 48 on the other side of the same, lever 47, centrally hung on the link, tracker-pin 46, engaged by one end of the lever, rocking fulcrum 54, co-operating with they other end, and a stop for shifting said fulcrum.

ll. In an octave manual-coupler, the combination of the keys and their tracker-pins, a diagonal lever pivotally supported at its ends on a key and a tracker-pin, respectively, a rocking fulcrum between the ends of the lever, and a stop for shifting the fulcrum into and out of active co-operation with the lever.

12. In a coupler for the pedal-organ and the great or swell'organ, the combination of the pedal, a vertical rod pivoted thereto, a lever pivotally hung at one end to a tracker-pin, its other end being in operative relation to the rod when the fulcrum is rocked, a rocking fulcrum co-operating with the lever, and means for shifting the fulcrum into and out of engagement with the lever.

13. The, combination, with a pedal, of rod 66, arm 67, lever 69, having one end operated IOO IIO

by the arm, as described, and the other end spanning the rear end of the key 53, and a shipper, 7l, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination of the pedal with a vertical rod pivoted thereto, levers placed in active relation to said rod and co-operating with the manual tracker-pins of the great and swell organs, respectively, and shippers for throwing either or both of said levers into or out of engagement with said tracker-pins.

l5. In a pedal-organ, the combination of extended white keys and truncated black keys with an organ-action.

1G. In a pedal-organ, the combination of truncated white and black keys and a frame supporting' extensions :tor the white keys, said frame and extensions being removable, Whereby Hoor-space of the organ is reduced.

JOHN A. SMITH.

lvitiiesses:

J. T. MCFALL, W. T. JDN. 

